Best Breweries Fort Collins: Enjoy the Top Beers in This Colorado City

Even locals can’t keep up with the top breweries Fort Collins, which is why we’ve compiled this guide. The city boasts tens of brewing companies, with new ones regularly adding more life to the craft beer scene.

Whether you’re looking for beer deliveries, family-friendly options, a place for all three meals, or one of the largest craft breweries in the US, there’s something for everyone at Fort Collins. Visit the vibrant city with this complete article as your guide.

Fort Collins Beer Breweries	Number of Active Beers	ABV (Lowest-Highest)
New Belgium Brewing Co	24	4.7 –
Gilded Goat Brewing Company	15	4.8 – 10.5 percent
Horse & Dragon Brewing Company	12	5.4 – 6.7 percent
Jessup Farm Barrel House	16	5.5 – 11.3 percent
Maxline Brewing	16	5 – 13.2 percent
Odell Brewing Company	23	4 – 9.3 percent
Snowbank Brewing	15	4.3 – 12 percent
Zwei Brewing Co	17	4.75 – 11 percent
Black Bottle Brewery	40	4.2 – 10.7 percent
Equinox Brewing	13	5.2 – 10.5 percent
Crooked Stave Fort Collins Taproom	16	4 – 7.8 percent
Funkwerks	24	4.2 – 11.3 percent
Intersect Brewing	16	4 – 9.7 percent
Prost Brewing Co. & Biergarten	7	4 – 6 percent
Purpose Brewing & Cellars	6	5.2 – 6.7 percent
Stodgy Brewing Co	13	4 – 9 percent
DC Oakes Brewhouse and Eatery	8	4 – 8.7 percent
Red Truck Beer Company	11	4.9 – 6.5 percent
Rally King Brewing	12	3.9 – 8.4 percent
Envy Brewing	16	4.5 – 11 percent

The Best Breweries Fort Collins

The city of Fort Collins is bustling with exciting craft breweries and delicious beers for all enthusiasts. After extensive research, we compiled a list of the top 20 breweries in the city.

– New Belgium Brewing Co

We’re starting with the fourth-largest craft brewery in the United States, with a fun location to check out in Fort Collins. New Belgium is one of the top dog friendly breweries Fort Collins, where you can enjoy a wide range of beers. They offer popular beer styles like NEIPAs, fruity sours, and American lager. You should try out these top beers when you visit:

• Summer Bliss
• Mountain Time Premium Lager
• Voodoo Ranger IPA
• Trippel
• Reifstenzel Pilsner

New Belgium Fort Collins combines its classic styles with some unique beers, like traditional lambic, Flanders Oud Bruin, and even Australian Pale Ales. The brewery organizes fun tours, so you can book your tickets before visiting.

– Gilded Goat Co

Next on our list is one of the leading breweries in Fort Collins. Gilded Goat Co. is a family-owned brewery and taproom with a unique name. The naming concept is based on the adventurous and comfortable goat balanced in its environment. You should check out these top beers below:

• Citrus Hour
• Brew Spruce
• Downpour Petrichor
• Vanilla Bourbon Cream
• Barrel-Aged Sixpence

Gilded Goat makes all their beers with Colorado mountain water and fresh ingredients, which means you can enjoy high-quality brews. They have a fun Mug Club, a club for craft beer drinkers. They also have a merchandise store where you can purchase shirts, outerwear, glasses, and more.

– Horse & Dragon Co

Fondly called H&D, Horse & Dragon is based on the concept that beer brings people together. The small craft brewery offers a variety of beers, with up to 12 on tap on any day. Whether you’re new to craft beer or a connoisseur, there’s something for you here. Check out some of the top beers at H&D:

• Brave Noise
• Kestrel Run
• N2 Snow Camp
• Haze & Dragon
• Flagstone

H&D is also known for its focus on social and environmental sustainability. They use their revenue and products to help the community and focus on reducing their negative impact on the environment while brewing beer. They also make beer with local malts obtained from farms around the area.

– Jessup Farm Barrel House

If you’re looking for the best place for barrel-aged craft beers in Fort Collins, the Jessup Brewery is the ideal choice. There’s something for everyone, from bourbon barrel-aged beers to tequila barrel-aged brews. Check out these top beers when you visit:

• Helles in Wonderland
• Senior Discount
• Transfer Day IPA
• Tequila Train Delay
• Feats of Strength

The first-come-first-served brewery accepts children and dogs, but the latter must be on a leash and are restricted to the patio. You can also bring your food items from other restaurants if you clean up before leaving.

– Maxline Brewing

Visit Fort Collins midtown to enjoy delicious beers from Maxline Brewing. The locally-owned, family-run brewery has a homely and comfortable taproom that makes it look like your living room. The beers on tap are constantly changing, and you can expect some gluten-free options, fruity sours, and barrel-aged beers. Here are some beers we recommend:

• Coffee Porter
• Honey IPA
• Peach Mango Pale Ale
• Holiday Favorite Blonde (Gluten-Free)
• BA Cinnamon Toast Stout

Along with your food, Maxline Brewing has a packed food truck schedule. You can enjoy food trucks from local restaurants in the city, from The Taco Man and Double Wide Burgers to Birrieria Dona Maria and Marchio’s Grill. They also have a schedule for their live music on the outdoor stage.

– Odell Brewing Co

In Northern Colorado, Odell Brewing Co is a one of the best breweries in Fort Collins with over 30 years of experience. The brewery is known for being 100 percent employee-owned and independent, and the Fort Collins location is the original location. Here are some top beers for locals and travelers alike.

• Sippin’ Lemonade
• 90 Shilling Ale
• Good Behavior
• Lagerado
• Drumroll

The taproom in Odell Brewing Fort Collins is known for its attractive patio, where you can see gorgeous mountain views while enjoying beers. Odell also features a taproom and beer garden with a 1250-barrel brewery, three fermentation cellars, and bottle lines. You can also look for a dog-friendly patio, beer flights, and live music.

– Snowbank Brewing

Focused on innovation and the Colorado lifestyle, Snowbank Brewing is one of the award-winning breweries in Fort Collins. The brewery was founded by dedicated homebrewers in 2014 and has quickly become one of the top choices in the city. They are known for their famous Sourado and Cranknbrew. Other popular beers include:

• Apres Ski
• Colorado Red
• 47½ Stout
• Rock Skis
• Fat Randy’s IPA

The dog-friendly and family-friendly taproom are designed for fun and relaxation, with a bar, high-top tables, a shaded patio, and seats by the windows. They feature non-alcoholic beverages, board games, a baby changer, and food trucks on Fridays and Saturdays.

– Zwei Brewery Co

If you’re looking for German beer while in Fort Collins, Zwei offers a fantastic experience. The German-style brewery offers German standards and some surprising craft beers on its tap list. It is co-owned by two brothers who enjoy drinking and making German beers. Their beers are inspired by Bavarian, Munich, and Austrian styles, and top choices include:

• Zwei Pils
• Weissbier
• Vienna Lager
• Schwarzbier
• Espresso Luv

Zwei Brewery is also known for its fun activities like yoga, fluid art painting, bingo, and discounts. You can check their calendar to know what to expect before visiting and look out for events that give back to organizations like Animal Friends Alliance.

– Black Bottle Brewing

Known for brewing radical beer, BBB is a top-notch Fort Collins brewery that pulls you in with the beer and keeps you hooked with their delicious meals. The tap list is located almost daily, with their talented brewers regularly coming up with unique styles. Here are some of the popular beers they have made:

• Anthem for a New Tomorrow
• Angry Elf
• Music City Cold Beer
• End of Days
• Scuba Steve

Before visiting Black Bottle, you should check their website to find out what’s pouring. It’s one of the best breweries Fort Collins with food, as their kitchen makes delicious tacos and sliders. You can also order their soup, salads, pizzas, seafood, sammies, specials, and more. The kitchen offers a kid’s menu, and some of their foods are made with BBB beers.

– Equinox Brewery

You should also check out Equinox when you’re in Fort Collins. The brewery, tap house, and public house are known for their focus on the community. It is designed as a public house to bring beer lovers together over delicious beer. Visit the brewery with a group, and check out popular options like:

• Eclipse Brown
• Jonas Porter
• MidSummer Pale Ale
• Pulsar Imperial IPA
• Something Sour

The brewery has 18 beers on tap and delivers to local beers and restaurants in Fort Collins. You can expect free live music on Fridays and Saturdays and a shady beer garden for comfort while drinking.

– Crooked Stave Fort Collins Taproom

Since 2010, Crooked Stave has been offering unique beers to Colorado, and you can check them out whenever you’re in Fort Collins. The brewery was founded by Chad Yakobson, who wrote a master’s thesis on the Brettanomyces yeast species and its use in the brewing industry. Now, he uses his knowledge as the brewmaster to make top beers like:

• Sour Rose
• Juicy West
• Petite Sour
• Petite Sour Blueberry
• Trellis Buster

Fort Collins is simply a taproom, while the brewing establishment is located in Denver. From IPAs and Pilsners to stout barrels and sours, there’s something for everyone at Crooked Stave. It is primarily known for its Petite Sour beer series.

– Funkwerks

Another top craft brewery in Fort Collins is Funkwerks, which focuses on Saisons, sours, and barrel-aged beers. With 20 beers on tap, you can expect other beers outside their niche, including IPAs and Pilsners. You can have their beers on tap or to-go. We recommend these popular beers:

• Tropic King
• Raspberry Provincial
• FW Pilsner
• HBC Fat Randy IPA
• Barrel-Aged Deceit

The Fort Collins taproom combines its delicious beers with simple snacks on the food menu. Look for chips, hummus, trail mix, beef jerky, and more. Funkwerks also organizes some of the top brewery tours Fort Collins every Saturday, with samples and souvenirs to take. They even allow you to enjoy beer directly from a barrel.

– Intersect Brewing

We also recommend Intersect Brewing for those interested in a fun brewery in Fort Collins. Intersect’s location is slightly off the beaten path but offers a cozy and comfortable taproom and patio where you can enjoy their beers and full food menu. Check out these top beers when you visit.

• Tramps Like Us
• Kill The Headlights
• In Thru The Out Door
• Friend of Chaos
• East Meets West

The menu is loaded with diverse foods, as they partner with local restaurants in Fort Collins. These include Pizza Cabash, Burrito Kitchen & Mame’s Burrito Co, and The Welsh Rabbit. There is also a wine menu for non-beer drinkers. Music lovers will be thrilled to check out the Intersect music collection, which contains hundreds of vinyl records.

– Prost Brewing Co. & Biergarten

Another German craft brewery in Fort Collins is Prost Brewing, which prides itself in offering an experience that allows you to drink like a German. The award-winning brewery has won gold and silver medals from the Great American Beer Festival. Check out their famous beers below:

• Pilsner
• Keller Pils.
• Marzen
• Weissbier.
• IPL

Prost Brewing makes all its beers with sustainably sourced German-grown hops and local Colorado malts. The result is authentic Biergarten-style beers that you can enjoy in a cozy and busy taproom in Fort Collins. Prost also has a selection of AlpenBlume hard seltzers.

– Purpose Brewing & Cellars

Next on our list is a small-batch craft brewery in Fort Collins which features a cozy and locally loved taproom. Purpose focuses on hand-crafted beers, and the tap list is based on their inspiration, whether it’s fruit, barrels, wood, and spices. Check out their popular options for when you visit:

• Escondida
• Colin & Mike’s Mosaic Adventure
• Smoeltrekker
• Tiramisu

Every weekend, Purpose changes its tap list, so you should look for surprises. There is always a barrel-aged beer on tap from their cellars, too, so you should look out for these when you visit. Purpose Brewery also has an exciting schedule of food trucks, and you can check out their merchandise online.

– Stodgy Brewing Co

Another fun gathering place for beer in Fort Collins is Stodgy Brewing. The brewery and taproom is a local neighborhood location that offers its neighbors and community members a fun place where they can connect and relax around top beers. Some of these beers include:

• American Lager
• Table Saison
• Gose
• Pale Ale
• West Coast IPA

Stodgy Brewing features a spacious outdoor patio and cozy indoor seating. They also accept friendly dogs inside and outside. There are also fun events during the week, like Tuesday board game nights and rotating food trucks from local restaurants like Caupona, Corndoggies, and Project Pizza.

– DC Oakes Brewhouse and Eatery

We also recommend DC Oakes Brewhouse and Eatery for those looking for adventurous beers in Fort Collins. The brewery is open for dine-in and take-out, but you’ll have to call ahead for seating. DC Oakes specializes in small-batch brews, and you can expect guest beers, wines, and cocktails. Here are some beers you should try out.

• Pilsner
• India Pale Ale
• Belgian Wit
• Belgian Strong Gold

DC Oakes has won over twenty beer awards, led by TJ Compton, their chief craftsman. The food is offered from Tony’s Kitchen and covers lunch, dinner, and brunch during the weekend. You can also look out for gluten-free options. The taproom is usually bustling with guests, which gives you a fun environment.

– Red Truck Beer Company

You should try out Red Truck when you’re in Fort Collins. The beer company is inspired by the old days when good times consisted of a ride, cold beers, and friends. Red Truck focuses on traditional beer styles with a twist. Check out beers like:

• Hard Day Northwest IPA
• Road Trip Classic Lager
• Cherry Bomb Black Cherry Lager
• El Space Camino Dry-Hopped Ale
• The Defender Bourbon Ale

Red Truck also has a fantastic food menu, with chili, wings, burgers, fries, sandwiches, salads, eggs, hot dogs, and house specials. The brewery also features delicious award-winning beers. You can order a beer at your home in kegs and choose from their food menu.

– Rally King Brewing

Next on our list is the Rally King Brewing, founded by Matt and Michelle. The brewery started in a garage in 2009 after Matt received a beer-making kit as a gift. He became very interested in beers and won over 80 awards in three years. Some of their top beers include:

• Surfer Girl American IPA
• East Meets West
• Red Scooter Red Ale
• Lindsay Light Vienna Lager
• Heffy Hefeweizen

In 2015, Rally King opened its doors to visitors. It also has fun weekly events from happy hour and BOGO to sour Fridays. You should look out for the small-batch sours.

– Envy Brewing

We’re rounding up our list with Envy Brewing, which was started by Dana Hood and Joe Morgan in 2019. The brewers have gained experience from other famous breweries like Dogfish Head, New Belgium, Boulder Beer Company, and more. The result is impressive beers like:

• Noco Fro IPA
• Morning Dew
• Help on the Way
• Kitten/Puppy Mittons
• Easy Rider

The food menu is also pretty impressive, with a wide range of delicious foods and specials. You can also purchase their merchandise and gift cards at the new brewery Fort Collins.

Conclusion

When you’re in Colorado, you should check out the top breweries in Fort Collins. Here are our top recommendations:

• New Belgium is the best overall brewery, a dog-friendly brewery with classic styles.
• Horse & Dragon is the ideal choice for small-batch beers and eco-friendliness in Fort Collins.
• Zwei is the best German brewery in Fort Collins, offering a wide range of brews.
• BBB offers the perfect balance of beer and food in Fort Collins.

Check out these fantastic breweries and enjoy your beer experience in Fort Collins!